Landfill methane reduction goes smoothly

In 1981, the 114-acre landfill in Milwaukee County, Wis., was closed and one-quarter of its land converted to a ski area for local residents. Marring its new-found status as a community asset, however, was a potential environmental liability — unlined landfills such as Milwaukee County’s have a tendency to leach harmful substances into the groundwater or the air.

Methane, a potentially explosive gas emitted from decomposing waste, is a primary landfill byproduct. When collected and burned, however, more than 99 percent of the methane is destroyed and no longer harmful.

The Milwaukee County landfill has undergone periodic monitoring since its closure, and in 1993, public works officials determined that methane was present. By October 1994, the gas was beginning to migrate toward homes bordering the site.

When the high methane levels were discovered, county officials declared an emergency so that funds could be allocated to monitor and remedy the situation. With a high potential for public concern, the department focused on providing residents with clear, consistent information.

Naturally, the situation was of particular concern to the families whose homes bordered the landfill. The department authorized landfill engineers and construction teams from Camp Dresser & McKee, Cambridge, Mass., to install interim gas monitoring devices in 30 residences and to design and build an interim gas flaring system to burn off the gases. Homes were equipped with detectors, which have uncovered no methane to date.

“The entire interim system was successfully designed, permitted and constructed ahead of schedule — only three months from the official notice to proceed — as a result of the fast-track approach taken to complete the project,” says William Heinimann, deputy director of public works.

Landfill gas readings under the 76th Street section of the landfill, taken since starting up the gas flare on March 20, 1995, have decreased significantly — from 50 percent methane to less than 2 percent.

But the work did not stop with the homes on the landfill’s periphery. The county used a Milwaukee public relations firm to help assemble materials, answer questions from the media and set up community meetings and other forums for discussions and questions. The county produced and distributed to residents a brochure detailing the project, along with a newsletter, Milwaukee County Landfill News.

The program ran smoothly from start to finish, and officials cite a number of key elements involved in managing and communicating an emergency situation, including:

* Cost. While cost of the remedial action is always a concern, it is of utmost importance to act quickly and employ the solution with the highest likelihood of success;

* Communication. Communication must extend to all local governments, county officials, state regulatory agencies, home owners and media, as well as the design/build team;

* Community Input. Not only did the public information strategy inform the local community, but the county also received valuable feedback from residents. This information was included in the design and construction to create a system agreeable to all parties;

* Media Relations. Getting accurate information to the media in an honest and timely fashion helps to relieve public fears; and

* Control. The county, the consultant and the PR agency mapped out not only the technical solution to the situation but also a plan for answering questions from the public and from the media.

“I’d say that, for everyone involved, it was gratifying to turn a potentially serious situation into a workable, cost-effective solution that was completed in a minimum of time,” says County Executive Thomas Ament.

The interim gas remediation system is anticipated to be operational until a permanent site-wide facility design is completed and constructed.